Cap.it.all ! ... a translucent dome concept under study by :
Here is a minimalized sketch exploring possibilities of a tilt
up dome design. An animation of this building concept may be seen
at: http://www.midcoast.com/~bo/tiltupdome.html
Tilt up construction allows using
the ground as a form for casting cement . The example above explores
the simplicity in "tilting up" a very small dome building.
A different building method concept
is offered for comparison named "ringforcement. Here is a
page describing Ringforcement
:A synergy of ferocement, concrete, masonry and curved construction.
An animation depicting construction by this concept is at:
http://www.midcoast.com/~bo/SpiralingMudDome.html
In temperate climates, a translucent
roof can work very well as a buffering "envelope" with
utility areas intervening between the roof and conventionally
insulated rooms below. Another worthy term for this unusual idea
may be "solar attic". Besides greenhouse uses and hot
water and heat production, the utility of this area includes:
whole building ventilation, workshops, drying (e.g: laundry) and
recreational uses. A translucent
dome built singlehandedly by author, and some earlier diagrams
of all this sketched with an older
software program.
It might be a question of time as
to when technology and markets offer the benefits of "translucent"
building components that feature full control of heat performance.
A promising material for translucent roofing is "silica aerogels".
Currently it is produced in small quantities at high prices which
reflect it's under realized promise. A material before it's time
since architecture in general has not sufficiently recognized
the possible imperative in translucent roofing. (IMHO).
News from summer 2003-- http://www.kalwall.com/nano1.htm
the worlds first commercial arogel panel, (a bit expensive yet).
Berkely Labs writes:
"Aerogels are advanced materials
yet also are literally next to nothing. They consist of more than
96 percent air. The remaining four percent is a wispy matrix of
silica (silicon dioxide), a principal raw material for glass.
Aerogels, consequently, are one of the lightest weight solids
ever conceived. "
Pictures and URL link follow below.
Two photos
of silica gel fragments. The first is taken from above,
the second
at an angle with camera nearly facing the light source, (sun).
I obtained these from The Lawrence Livermore Lab many years ago
when they were government funded to promote the commercial potentials
of the material. The packet which I received contained about an
inch thick pile of technical documents and a nice little brick
of silica gel. Over the years, the brick chipped away and i confess
to my curiosity in testing its breaking strength. My sample was
weak.
Every one I showed this sample to loved
the hint of iridescence. This aesthetically pleasing quality may
be one of the eventual selling points of this material. It seems
looking back from today, promoters might have well spent some
money showing off this aspect in magazines articles of many persuasions
to stir up a broad based interest. Within reason it is conceivable
that translucent buildings could both control temperature comfort
and provide lighting reminiscent to ice caves! This may well transpire
eventually, (noting the surprises with technology). CAD animated
fly throughs of translucent buildings, using radiosity rendering,
might just stimulate interest. (Eventually examples will appear
here, or linked to this URL).
Silica gel is a stable "foam"
of silicon molecules. The fine matrix of silicon molecules traps
countless air spaces which make the material light weight and
a good insulator. No doubt differing products could evolve beyond
the original forms. Here is a very nice descriptive page from
the Berkley Labs "Aerogel
Research at LBL: From the Lab to the Marketplace" Getting
the strength up to styrofoam levels might reduce some of its desirable
qualities, but I am optimistic about this technology in the future,
despite any thing else. Another
URL atNasa on aerogels, click here.
I seem to remember some URLs out there describing
silica gel technology, (casually found through search engines).
Some company was selling silica gel as a special applications,
high performance insulation. But it would take a massive industrial
effort to make the material viable in the housing market, (as
translucent roofing insulation).
A separate, small,
minimalist but sculptural dome concept.
See some CAD sketches using curvaceous
meshes.
See trickle down solar heat storage
concept.
See a wilder biaxial building concept.
Below: projecting natural shapes
into a dome surface as a buildable structure.
Other
pages in this series. 
(Click
on blue writing to follow links.)
Tel : 207 342 5796 . . . (Maine)
http://www.midcoast.com/~bo
---
Email comments, welcome :________
bo@midcoast.com